Alex de Minaur Survives Arthur Fils Test to Keep Rotterdam Title Defence Alive

Alex de Minaur survived an early scare from rising French star Arthur Fils, winning 7-6(3), 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to the third round of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. The top-seeded Australian extended his remarkable run at ATP 500 events, claiming his 49th victory at this level since the beginning of 2023—more than any player on tour.

The match, which lasted one hour and 32 minutes at Rotterdam Ahoy, tested de Minaur's credentials as he seeks his first title at the Dutch indoor hard-court event. The world No. 8 has finished runner-up at Rotterdam in both 2024 and 2025, making this year's campaign particularly significant as he aims to break through for his maiden triumph at the prestigious ATP 500 tournament.

Fils, competing in just his second tournament since returning from an eight-month back injury, pushed de Minaur to the limit in the opening set. The two players traded powerful groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play, with neither able to secure a decisive break of serve. The first set stretched to a tiebreak, where Fils initially held his own before de Minaur seized control.

The Australian found another gear when it mattered most, winning the final five points of the tiebreak to claim the opening set 7-6(3). That momentum shift proved decisive as de Minaur dominated the second set, breaking Fils' serve in the second game after the Frenchman committed a costly double fault at 15-30.

De Minaur's superior court coverage and relentless defensive skills wore down his younger opponent in the second set, which he claimed 6-2 in just 33 minutes. The Australian's serve functioned efficiently throughout, and his ability to extend rallies forced Fils into errors as fatigue from his recent injury layoff appeared to take its toll.

With the victory, de Minaur sets up a third-round clash against either compatriot Aleksandar Vukic or 2015 Rotterdam champion Stan Wawrinka. The Australian will look to continue building momentum as he chases not only his first Rotterdam title but also valuable ranking points in his quest to break into the ATP top five. His consistency at ATP 500 level tournaments has been a hallmark of his recent career, and Rotterdam represents another opportunity to add silverware to his growing collection.